Draft-evener.



No. 700,299. Patented May 20, I902 Y E. BURNS. v

DRAFT EVENEB.

(Application filed Oct. 30, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Edward! fiurnd'.

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" UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIQE Qv EDWARD BURNS, OF ZEARING, IOWA.

DRAFT-.EYENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters IPatent No. 700,299, dated May 20, 1902. Application filed October so, 1901. Serial Noses rs. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I," EDWARD B RNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zearing, in the countyof -Story and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Eveners; and I do hereby declare the following tobe .a full, clear, and exactdescription of. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for equalizing the draft of animals when arranged in pairs and the pairs set one in'advance of the other in tandem fashion, whereby instarting a team the load is thrown on the several animals and a concerted action of all assured. For a full description of the invention and .the merits thereof, and also to acquire a knowledge of the detailsofconstruction of the means for eifecting the result, reference is to'be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment ofv the invention isillustrated'in the accompanying drawings,- in whih- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a draftevener constructed inaccordan'oe with and embodying the essential features of the invention." Fig. 2 is a top-plan view'of the singletree and parts intimately associated with and connected thereto.

I Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the singletree and equalizing levers". looking toward the" front. Fig. 4. is an enlarged section of-an' end portion of the singletreeand the 'middle portion of the equalizing-lever connected thereto. .Fig. 5 is atop plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the dotted lines indicating the extreme pojsitionsof the equalizing- Corresponding and likepartsamreferred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings bythesame reference characters.

Thesingletree 1 is provided at a central point with a lug 2to come between the inner ends of the equalizing-levers 3 and which is vertically apertured to receive the bolt 4 for connecting the singletree to the vehicle or implement to which the draft is to be applied.

the draft-chain 10.

.pairs of animals.

A plate 5 extends parallel with the single-* tree and is spaced therefrom to :receive the inner end portions of the equalizing-levers 3,

said-plate being secured to the singletree by 1 with arms 7 extending parallel with the stems of the said bolts 6. These arms 7 perform a dual office-to secure and prevent pivotal movement of the equalizing-levers when in one position and to limit the pivotal movements of the said levers when in another position. The stems of the T-bolts 6 pass through openings in the plate 5, singletree 1; and equal= izing-levers 3'in coincident relation, and the arms 7 thereof are adapted in one position of the T-bolts to embrace opposite edgesof the equalizing-levers andlimit their pivotal movement, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5-, and in another position of the T -bolts theequalizing-levers, which at times is desirable. The end portions of the arms 7 after passing through-the openings 8 in the equalizing-levers and'plate 5 enter the singletree, therebyfirmly securing the equal.-

izing-leversagainstv any pivotal movement.

The T-bolts may be secured in place by any means, and, as shown, cotter-pins 9 are em ployed. The draft-chainlO is connected by short chains 11 with=the=inner ends of the equalizing-levers 3 and a-doubletree 12, hav ing singletrees 13 attached to its outer end. Singletrees 14 are connected to the outer ends of the equalizing-levers 3. The arrangement admits of a pairof draft-animals having a tandem arrangement and located so that an animal of each pair is upon opposite sides of Upon adjusting the T- bolts 6 so that the arms 7 mayjembrace the edges of the equalizing-levers," asindicated in Fig. 5, the said equalizing-leversare free roof;

to oscillate, thereby admitting of an equali zation of the load between the front and'r'ear Upon adjusting theT- bolts sothat the arms 7 will pass throu the openings 8 of the platej and equalizing-19:

vers 3 with their end portions entering the singletree the equalizinglevers are made fast and prevented from movement. Hence the singletree may be used in the capacity of a doubletree and with a single pair of draftanimals, as will be readily comprehended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a draft-evener, and in combination with a singletree and equalizing-levers cooperating therewith, bolts of approximately T form having arms at the ends of their crossheads either to enter the equalizing-levers and prevent pivotal movement thereof or to embrace the edges thereof and limit their pivotal movement, substantially as set forth.

2. In a draft-evener, and in combination with a singlet-rec, a plate paralleling the singletree and connected thereto, and equalizing-levers arranged between the singletree and the said plate, T-shaped bolts pivotally connecting the equalizing-levers with the plate and singletree and having arms at the ends of their cross-heads either to embrace oppositeedges of the said plate and equalizing-levers or to enter corresponding openings formed in the said plate and equalizing-levers, substantially as set forth.

3. A draft-evener comprising a singletree having a centrally-disposed lug, a plate paralleling the singletree and spaced therefrom by the said lug, equalizing-levers located between the said plate and singletree, singletrees applied to the outer ends of the equalizing-levers, a draft-chain having connection with the inner ends of the said equalizinglevers, and T-shaped bolts connecting the equalizing-levers to the said plate and singletree and provided with arms at the ends of their cross-heads to embrace the edges of the equalizing-levers or to enter corresponding openings in the said plate and equalizinglevers, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD BURNS [L. s.]

\Vitnesses:

D. J. VINJE, ELLA BURNS. 

